Tag Archive for: Craven Stakes

Indestructible earns Guineas ticket with Craven success

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Indestructible made the best possible start to life with Karl Burke when winning the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket – and paid a handsome compliment to Chaldean in the process.

Formerly with Michael O’Callaghan in Ireland, Indestructible was moved to Burke’s stables in Leyburn by owners Amo Racing and the transfer paid an immediate dividend.

The increasingly familiar purple and white Amo silks have enjoyed a stellar week at HQ, with Richard Hannon’s Mammas Girl winning the Nell Gwyn and propelling herself into the 1000 Guineas picture in the process being supplemented by the impressive victory of Persian Dreamer.

Andrew Balding’s Chaldean, due to run in Saturday’s Greenham Stakes at Newbury, beat Indestructible twice last season in the Acomb Stakes at York and the Champagne at Doncaster.

Joined at the head of affairs going into the dip by The Foxes, Indestructible stuck his head down for Kevin Stott and found plenty for pressure while The Foxes – who looked to go a length up a one stage – drifted over to the far rail.

In the end Indestructible ran out a length and a quarter winner, with Dancing Magic staying on for third. Charlie Appleby’s Mysterious Night, sent off the 15-8 favourite, was niggled from some way out and failed to get competitive.

“Thankfully the horses have started to hit form. If you’d been talking to me two weeks ago I was pulling what is left of my hair out, but things have clicked into gear,” said Burke.

“This is a lovely, scopey horse. I got a phone call just before Christmas asking if we’d take him and I’m not going to turn down horses like him.

“We had a couple of niggles with him physically after he arrived, nothing major, but because of those niggles I’m sure he’s having a good blow today and he’ll improve.

“He has worked well, especially in the last two weeks as with each piece of work he did leading into this he worked better each time, so I’m delighted.

“I’d say I’d have to fight Kia (Joorabchian, owner) now not to come back here in two weeks’ time (2000 Guineas). He deserves his chance, I’m sure.”

Balding’s wife, Anna-Lisa, said: “These trials are always a fact-finding mission and for him (The Foxes) he’s run really good and his best days are hopefully ahead of him still over a little bit further.

The Foxes is heading to York
The Foxes is heading to York (Steven Paston/PA)

“For Chaldean, he’s wintered well and Saturday will answer more questions.”

King Power racing manager Alistair Donald said of The Foxes: “We’re delighted. This was always going to be a prep for the Dante and the Derby is the main focus.

“We didn’t want to go to the Dante first time out. Today he’s travelled great, looked like he was going to win the race and just got tired. I think he was a bit lonely out in front there as well.

“It’s quite exciting and we’re perfectly on track for the plan.”

Paddington more likely to represent O’Brien in Craven than Cairo

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Recent Naas winner Paddington may represent Aidan O’Brien in the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

The Siyouni colt carried a big weight to victory to win the Madrid Handicap on his return to action and is on course to step up in class for the Guineas trial.

O’Brien also has Cairo entered, last seen finishing well down the field in the UAE Derby on dirt. But soft ground has made him a very unlikely runner.

“We left in two and I’m not sure as the ground has gone soft. Paddington is the one that might run. It might be a step too quick, but he’s in and we are thinking about it,” said O’Brien.

“Cairo would have been a possible only the ground has gone soft. He’s fine and just didn’t face the dirt over in Dubai.”

O’Brien currently houses two of the ante-post favourites for the 2000 Guineas in Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear and both are due to step up their work shortly.

“It’s so far, so good with the Guineas horses,” said the Ballydoyle handler.

“Little Big Bear is a quick horse and has not been asked to do a lot. His work will get more serious over the next few weeks.”

The Foxes pencilled in for Craven Stakes return

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The Foxes could start his campaign in the Craven Stakes as he hopes to tread a path to the Derby.

The son of Churchill won for the first time in a Goodwood maiden in July last year, then taking a step forward to land the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket in September.

The Craven Stakes, a Group Three event run over a mile at the same track in mid-April, is the probable starting point for the colt this term.

The Foxes (left) winning the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes
The Foxes (left) winning the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (David Davies/PA)

The Dante, a Group Two step up to 10 furlongs, has been mentioned as the next target, after which a tilt at the Derby is under consideration for the King Power-owned three-year-old.

Trainer Andrew Balding said: “We are hoping that The Foxes might make up into a Derby horse this season.

“He is not in the 2000 Guineas but he will probably run in the Craven as a prep for the Dante.

“He is a horse that we have always rated and he looks the part. Hopefully he will be a smart horse this season.”